April 11, 2019 — Three major grocery chains in the United Kingdom are doing their part to help end illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as well as slavery and human rights abuses.

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Co-op are the first to sign the Environmental Justice Foundation’s Charter for Transparency, which was designed to help supermarkets ensure their seafood supply chains are free from illegal fishing and human rights abuses. The three chains account for more than half of all grocery sales in the U.K., EJF said in a press release.

One-third of fish stocks are being exploited at unsustainable levels, with a further 60 percent fished at maximally sustainable levels, EJF said in a new report. Human rights abuses and illegal practices that destroy ocean ecosystems “have plagued parts of the global seafood industry,” EJF said in its release.

“Out at sea and far from law enforcement, crew are vulnerable, and unscrupulous owners can act with impunity,” the organization said.

“Transparency in all aspects of fisheries is crucial to ensuring that the seafood we eat was caught legally, ethically and sustainably. Supermarkets are a vital link in the chain and can do much to demand change,” EJF said.

“Supermarkets have real power to help end illegal fishing and human rights abuse at sea,” EJF Executive Director Steve Trent. “They can do this by putting in place effective risk mitigation policies and processes across their entire supply chains, backed by independent verification.”